By Wilfred Hemen Ityokyaa

Since implementation for the non-teaching staff of the Federal universities and other Federal tertiary institutions in the country, there are agonizing tales of gross shortcomings of the IPPIS ranging from excessive deductions to the erosion of some allowances leading to terrible underpayments. Over the two months for example, I have lost a total of 51 thousand naira to under payment. The essence of the IPPIS, as touted by government was to provide a smoother platform for salaries and enhance promptness, and also do away with ghost workers who were perceived to be burdening the payroll. Salaries enjoyed by university staff are products of negotiations and agreements. I wonder why the concern of govt officials should be about what allowances are right or wrong thereby undermining the peculiarities of university employment and administration. As it stands now, the other unions cannot be trusted. They. Seem to have a new found love in IPPIS which has caused membership dues deductions to be on gross pay rather than basic salary meaning more money for union officials to buy new cars, befriend the hottest women in town and build larger than life houses under the cover of union assignments. ASUU remains the hope for the survival of the university system with its distinctive nature. University staff cannot be singled out and jealously frustrated for salaries that are not even the highest in the land! The salaries of military and paramilitary organisations in the country have not been called to question, nor the salaries of agencies like NPA, NNPC, CBN, Customs, FRSC, NMA, etc. I commend ASUU unflinching stand.